The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has queried the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri, Ikechukwu Dozie, over the alleged irregular appointment of 24 aides in his office.
In a memo dated June 25, 2026, the minister directed the vice-chancellor to immediately reverse the appointments, describing them as inconsistent with extant regulations governing federal universities.
The memo, signed by Kareem O.L., Acting Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education on behalf of the minister, stated that the appointments failed to comply with established procedures and due process.
According to the ministry, the directive followed a review of an internal university memorandum dated June 22, 2026, through which the appointments were reportedly approved.
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Education has been drawn to your memorandum concerning the appointment of twenty-four aides in various capacities within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor,” the memo stated.
It added that the appointments were “at variance with the extant regulations, established procedures, and the principles of due process governing appointments within the Federal University System.”
The minister instructed Dozie to reverse the appointments without delay and provide evidence of compliance to the ministry.
The correspondence was also copied to the National Universities Commission.
In addition, Alausa invited the vice-chancellor to appear before the ministry on Monday, June 29, for further discussions on the matter.
According to the memo, the meeting will address issues relating to institutional governance, administrative accountability, due process and adherence to the regulatory framework guiding the administration of federal universities.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, prudence and best practices in the management of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Dozie, a professor of medical microbiology and parasitology, assumed office on June 19 as the ninth substantive vice-chancellor of FUTO, succeeding Nnenna Oti, whose five-year tenure recently ended.
Before his appointment at FUTO, Dozie served as vice-chancellor of Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University in Imo State.
